Vehicle-spring.



C. GIRL.

VEHICLE SPRING.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 6, |914.

Patented Mar.y 7,1916.

:57i/En faf- COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH co.. WASHINGTON. D. C.

CHRISTIAN GIRI., or CLEVELAND, OHIO, AssIGNon. To THE r-ERFEGTION SPRINGCOMPANY, orcLnvELANn, orIIo,l A CORPORATION cromo. y

VEHICLE-SPRING. l

l Specification of Letters Patent. i Pai-,Qntd Mar. 7, 191.6.

Application filed .May 6, 1914. Serial No. 836,632.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHRISTIAN GIRL, a citizen of the United States,residing at Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, haveinvented a certain newV and useful Improvement in Vehicle-Springs, ofwhich the following is a full, clear, and exact description, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings.'

This invention relates to vehicle springs, and has for its object toprovide a .construction by which .a definite radius action may beexerted between the vehicle axle and the frame whereby, in the case ofthe front axle of an automobile, the steering may be made more definite.

A further object of the invention is to provide a spring which, while.affording substantially the same riding effect as one composed entirelyof high-grade steel spring plates, it will employ a materially lessquantity of such material, with a vcorresponding material reduction inthe cost of the spring.

A further object of the invention is to.

provide for combining in a unitary construction a spring and a rigidradius rod.

I secure the foregoing and other objects, which will appear hereinafter,by the construction illustrated in the drawings forming part hereof,wherein@ Figure 1 represents a side elevation of the front end of anautomobile frame, showing applied thereto and to the axle a compositespring and radius rod constructed in accordance with my invention, theaxle being shown in section; Fig. 2 represents an enlarged sectionaldetail taken throughthe central portion which is connected to the axle;and F ig. 3 a transverse sectional view of the same portion of thespring, corresponding approximately to the line 3 3 of Fig. 31.-

Describing by reference characters the various parts illustrated herein,l denotes the front end of the body frame of an automobile, said frontend terminating in a horn or hanger 2.

3 denotes the front axle, the particular axle shown herein being ofI-beam construction, the top flange of the beam being extended to form aspring seat, -as indicated at 4. rI`he spring which I employ is acomposite spring and rigid radius rod and consists generally of a rearresilient section 5 and a front rigid section 6, these sections beingconnected together, preferably vat the axle and in connection with theseat 4. The section 5 is of ordinary semi-elliptic construction andcomprises a main plate and a sufficient number of auxiliary plates, themain plate being connected to the frame by means of a swinging shackle 7The front ends of the spring plates comprising the rear section 5project preferably entirely across the spring seat, with the bottom andshortest plate 5a resting on said seat.

The front section 6 is-preferably of channel-iron construction havingthe flanges 6a projecting downwardly and the web 6b at the top. Thesection 6a is tapered from rear to front whereby it resembles in generaloutline the rear section and the front end of .an ordinary semi-ellipticspring. The web 6b may be cut away at the extreme frontend of thesection 6 to receivethe spring horn or hanger 2 between the forks thusprovided, a bolt 8 vserving to connect the horn or hanger to thissection 6. The rear end of thesection 6 is of suchV dimensions as toreceive snuglyv therewithin the front end of the section 5, the section6 extending preferably entirely across the spring seat 4 and theoverlapping portions of the sections 5 and v6 being connected togetherand to the seat by means of the clips 9 which extend around the rear endof the latter section and project through the spring seat, to which theyare secured by means of nuts 10. The rear end of the section 6 will beof somewhat less depth than the front end of the section 5 whereby, onsetting up on the nuts 10, the lower plate 5a will be compressed againstthe spring seat. A center bolt 11 having a head 12 embedded in a recessin the top of the spring seat extends through the plates of the section5 and the web 6b of the section 6 and forms a positive and directconnection between the sections.

It has been found that, in operation, the sections 6 of the two frontsprings exert a definite radius action between the frame and the axle,whereby the steering qualities are markedly improved. AIt has also beenfound that practically the same riding qualities are secured withsprings of this type as with springs composed entirely of plates.Obviously, thesubstitution of the channel steel member 5 foi` half of amulti-leaf Vspring made of high grade steel effects a material saving inthe cost of the spring; but, as pointed out hereinbefore, myconstruction renders possible to combine economy of production with easeof riding.

Having thus described my invention, what claim is l. A combined springand radius rod comprising two rigidly connected sections, one of saidsections being in effect half of a multi-leaf spring which is connectedat substantially the point of greatest cross sectional area with therigid section, the rigid section comprising a channel member which isadapted to receive therewithin the enlarged portion of the firstmentioned section.

2. A combined spring and radius rod comprising two sections, one of saidsections being in eect half of a multi-leaf semi-elliptic spring and theother section comprising a channel member, the channel member receivingtherewithin the enlarged end of the rst mentioned section, and meansrigidly connecting the overlapping ends of said section.

8. The combination, with a vehicle frame and axle, of a combined springand radius rod comprising a pair of sections, one of said sectionsconsisting of a plurality of spring leaves, the last-mentioned sectionbeingconnected at its reduced end to the frame and the other sectioncomprising a channel member which is adapted to receive therewithin theenlarged end of the first section, means rigidly connecting theoverlapping portions of said sections, means connecting the saidoverlapping portions to the axle, and a connection between the frame andthe end of the second section which is remote from the axle.

4:. The combination, with a vehicle frame and axle, of a compositespring and radius rod comprising a section consisting in eect of half amulti-leaf spring having its reduced end connected to the frame and achannel shaped second section having one end overlapping and receivingtherewithin the enlarged end of the iirst section, means connecting saidsections together, means connecting the overlapping portions of thesections to the axle, and a connection between 'the second section andthe frame.

5. The combination, with a vehicle frame and axle, of a composite springand radius rod comprising a rear section consisting in effect of half amulti-leaf spring having its rear end connected to the frame and itsenlarged front end extending to and overlapping the axle and achannel-shaped front section having its rear end extending to andoverlapping the axle and receiving therewithin the front end of the irstsection, means connecting said sections together, means connecting theoverlapping portions of the sections to the axle, and a connectionbetween the front end of the second section and the frame.

6. The combination, with the frame and the axle of a vehicle, of acomposite spring and radius rod comprising a resilient section which isconnected at one end to the frame and a rigid section which is alsoconnected at one end to the frame, said sections overlapping and beingrigidly connected together, and means connecting the overlappingportions of the sections to the axle.

7 A composite spring and radius rod comprising a resilient section, madeup of a multiplicity of leaves, and a rigid section, the rigid sectionhaving a hollow portion adapted to receive therewithin the body portionor enlarged end of the resilient section, and means connecting theoverlapping portions of said sections.

8. A composite spring and radius rod comprising a resilient sectionhaving a plurality of leaves, and a rigid section, said rigidsectionhaving a channel-shaped portion adapted to receive therewithin theenlarged or body portion of the resilient section, and means connectingthe overlapping portions of the sections.

ln testimony whereof, I hereunto ailix my signature in the presence oftwo witnesses.

onnrsfrmiv Gini..

Witnesses:

W. E. PERRINE, JOHN G. U'rz.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner or' Patents,

Washington, D. C.

